Real Madrid to face Atletico in Champions League semifinals

Nyon, April 21 (IANS) Real Madrid will face their local rival Atletico Madrid, while Juventus are set to play against Monaco in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, according to a draw held here on Friday.

Madrid and Atletico are to clash once more after the two teams from the Spanish capital contended in the Champions League finals of 2014 and 2016, which were both won by Los Blancos, reports Efe.

The first leg matches will be played at the homes of Real Madrid and Monaco on May 2 and May 3, while the second leg will be played away on May 9 and 10.

The draw also revealed that the winner of Juventus versus Monaco will be the home team in the final scheduled for June 3 in the National Stadium of Wales in Cardiff (United Kingdom).

Real Madrid will attempt to extend its record of 11 Champions League titles to 12 and make the new record of two consecutive titles in the tournament in its current form, while Atletico, which lost to their bitter nemesis in the 2014 and 2016 finals, wants to grab its first Champions League title ever.

Meanwhile, Juventus will go after its first title since 1996.

The Italians' morale is high after defeating Barcelona in the quarterfinals, while Monaco will be playing its fourth Champions League semi-finals with the hope of winning the title for the first time, after losing the 2004 final against Jose Mourinho's FC Porto.